Burglar alarm system



May 12, 1964 P. MILLER ETAL BURGLAR ALARM SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 2l, 1963 QQNAN.

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Nmww@ QNDN May 12, 1964 P. MILLER ETAL BURGLAR ALARM SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 2l, 1963 United States PatentOilce 3,133,276 Patented May 12, 1964 3,133,276 BURGLAR ALARM SYSTEM Peter Miller, S842 N. St. Louis Ave., Chicago, lll., and William Miller, 7830 N. Kostner, Skokie, Ill. Filed Mar.` 21, 1963, Ser. No. 266,869 6 Claims. '(Cl. 340-276) This invention relates generally toburglar alarm systems and more particularly relates to a burglar alarm .system of the character described which is adapted plex arrangement of component parts of certain systems which make their cost prohibitive and unsuitable for affording such protection for residential buildings. Such highly complex systems normally are used only to protect against burglary or unauthorized entry into large commercial or industrialestablishments that can afford the cost of installation and operation of such systems. For instance, such systems may include photography apparatus, tear gas release devices, or other sophisticated deterrent and/or detector means for preventing or discouraging unlawful entry. `Another well-knownv alarm system is that of American District Telegraph Company of Chicago, Ill.,in which a large number of member business establishments are provided with appropriate alarm tripping switch `mechanisms arranged to transmit signals to a central ofiice through available telephone lines to indicate an unlawful entry into the premises of Va member establishment.,V The central oiiice is monitored .vaded are all too Well known. In Patent No. 2,663,864, there is disclosed an electric burglar alarm system for interconnection between plural stations situated in locations of the small business establishment type. In the CundiiC invention, a switch is provided at each of the several interconnected stations to be operated secretly by a person on the premises for providing an indicating signal at the other ones of these stations. However, the Cundiff system requiresthat a person first be available to operate a signalling key and that a second person be present at a connected station to become aware of the signal.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an alarm system for interconnection between a group of stations to be protected wherein means are Vprovided for automatically triggering the alarm switches Vat all other stations of a group upon unlawful entry at any remaining station of the group.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in a burglar alarm a plurality of alarm switches at each of several stations to be protectedfor installation at several strategic locations about the premises of each protected station.

in a `wall socket.

It is a fur-ther object of the invention to provide a system of the characterV described which includes means for providing an entry alarm signal at each of associated stations of a group, which alarm signal is transmitted continuously after intrusion so as to necessitate positive action by an occupant of a station of said group-to quiet the alarm indicating signal athis station.

it is still a further object of the invention to provide a dual-indicating alarm signalling device at each of the indicating stations in connection with a Aburglar alarm system, as described.

These and other objects of the invention will.become apparent from a consideration of the following'description and accompanying drawings of illustrative embodiments of the invention. Y

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a four station burglar alarm system in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a three station burglar alarm system inV accordance with the invention.

The invention comprises generally a plurality of alarm apparatuses adapted for installation at each one of. a

Ygroup of stations forming a complex, such as individual homes on a street or neighboring streets or apartments in a multiple-dwelling residence. Each alarm apparatus is connected with all the -others by simple, economical wiring and each is adapted for simple energization by means no more complex than inserting an electrical plug Each alarm apparatus has dual indicators which are distinctively indicative of one ofthe plural such apparatuses interconnected in a system. Further, each alarm apparatus includes a manually operable switch for selectively disabling that indicator which may alert an intruder at the station protected by the individual apparatus. It will be appreciated that at least two stations will comprise a group and more than the four illustrated may form a group of interconnected stations for obtaining the advantages of the invention.

Eachalarm apparatus comprises a simple transformer having a primary winding adapted for connectiontoa conveniently available source of alternating current power, such as a house supply wall plug. The secondary winding of this transformer comprises two portions, a high voltage portion and a low voltage portion, connected in series and having a rst common lead extending from the common connection point of the 4two secondary winding portions.

A second lead extendsfrom theexterior terminal of the high voltagesecondary winding portion and a third leadextends from an exterior terminal of the Vlow voltage portion of the secondary winding. A distinct alarm signal for each ofthe plural stations is connected in series with a normally open, signal operated switch, the common lead, and the third, low voltagelead.

, `Connection is made from the high voltage, second lead by way of plural parallel connected switches to a tourth or al-arm lead. These plural switches are normally open and are adapted fordisposition at plural strategic locations about a protected premises for clos-ure by unauthorized entry at the particular location,V At each location, the alarm apparatus comprises further, a plurality 'of make-break switches corresponding in number to the number of stations to be protected- The make-break switches comprise two conduction paths, one of whichv Vis normally closed and the other of which is normally shut a respectively associated, normally open contact connected in series with the alarm indicating devices noted heretofore. These linkages are of a nature to hold the second path closed as long as current flows in the inductive winding.

That make-break switch associated with the station at which a particular apparatus is located has the normally closed conduction path connected in circuit with the aforementioned fourth alarm line. The second conduction paths of all of the make-break switches in a particular alarm apparatus, are connected to the aforementioned second, high voltage line. Thus, upon closure of any one of these second normally open inductive paths associated with the make-break switches, current fiows from the second, high voltage line to the common line by way of the inductive winding. Accordingly, this make-break switch remains in closed condition until affirmative action thereafter is taken to open the switch.

The second and third make-break switches at one station have the first normally closed conduction paths connected respectively to the fourth alarm line associated with related stations. Thus, upon closure of any one of the parallel connected strategically positioned alarm switches at a given location, the alarm line at this location provides `an energizing signal to a distinctive alarm indicator at an associated station. There, this distinctive indicator is activated to alert observing personnel and continues in an activated state until affirmative action is taken to terminate this activation.

Referring now to the drawings, in the block diagram of FIG. l, four alarm protected stations individually identified, are shown arranged and connected for mutual protection by apparatus in accordance with the invention. The alarm apparatus for installation at each of these stations is adapted for encrgization from a locally available source of alternating current power, such as a wall receptacle, by plugs P10, P40, P70, and P160, respectively.

Alarm apparatus at each of these four stations is connected with each 'of the remaining stations by two signal lines. Thus, alarm station 10 is connected to alarm station by a signal transmitting line 210 and by a signal receiving line 310. Similar connections are made to stations 70 and 100 by lines 211, 311 and 212, 312. Station 40 is connected to stations 70 and 100 by transmitting and receiving lines 410, 510 and 411, 511 and station 7() is connected to station `100 by lines 610, 710. In this manner, a signal transmitting line, simple and economical in installation, is provided for interconnecting each one of `the four stations illustrated with all of the others.

-At each of the stations, such as station 10, there is provided an alarm light and an alarm horn each distinctive to a particular one of the several stations. These lights are designated L1, L2, L3, and L4 and the horns are designated H1, H2, H3 and H4. Each of the lights comprises a distinctive mask, as shown, and each of the horns has a tone which is distinctively indicative of the station with which the horn is associated.

Switches S1, S2, S3 and S4 are similarly provided at each station for terminating the individual alarms when desired by a person at the station. The switch S1 is connected in particular fashion at station 10 for controlling the two alarms H1 and L1 which are peculiar to the station 10. This connection enables a person at station 10 to disable the audible alarm indicator H1 at this station while enabling the visual alarm, lamp L1 to function in normal manner. Similar arrangements are made at each of the other stations.

The alarm apparatuses 10, 40, 70 and 100 are installed at each of four neighboring homes for instance, in a typical arrangement. All are energized by connection of the illustrated wall plugs. When the occupant chooses to leave the property protected by station 10, he may throw the switch S1. Thereafter, if a burglar intrudes on the protected property, an alarm switch will be triggered. The switch S1 having been thrown, no horn will sound to alert the burglar but, his presence will be indicated by the lighting of lamp L1 at station 10. This intrusion, however, wfill automatically cause energizing of leads 210, 211 and 212. These leads as shown, are connected to stations 4t), 70 and 100 where corresponding lights L1 and horns H1 will be activated to alert an occupant at any of these stations to summon assistance or notify police authorities. Details of the circuitry for accomplishing these functions in a related three station system are shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2 a first alarm apparatus 10 is shown as indicated by broken lines. An energizing line 11 is adapted for connection to a conveniently available source of alternating current at a iirst one of plural interconnected stations to be mutually protected in accordance with the invention. The line 11 provides energizing alternating current to the primary winding of a transformer 12. The transformer 12 includes a secondary winding having a first high voltage portion 13 land a second low voltage portion 14, both connected in series. A common lead 16 extends from the common connection point of these secondary windings.

A high voltage lead 15 extends from the exterior terminal of the high voltage portion 13 and a low voltage lead 17 extends from an external terminal of the low voltage portion 14.

A plurality of normally open contact switches 19 are connected in series from the high voltage line 15 to an alarm line 18. These normally open switches 19v are adapted for disposition respectively at strategic locations about the station to be protected by the alarm apparatus 10. lllustratively, one of these switches 19 is positioned to be held open in a door jamb by the closure of the door. Thus, opening of the door closes the said switch 19. A plurality of make-break switches 22, 32, and 34, corresponding in number to the number of stations to be protected, are connected through operating windings, such as the winding 23, to the common lead 16.

A normally closed Contact of these plural make-break switches, a contact such as the illustrated contact 24, is connected to the alarm line of ya respectively associated station. Thus, the normally closed contact of the makebreak switch 22 is connected to the alarm lead 18.

The normally opened contacts of all three make-break switches are connected to the high voltage lead 15. The normally closed contacts of the make-break switches 32 and 34 are connected to the alarm lead of the respectively associated stations. Thus, the normally closed path associated with make-break switch 32 is connected to the alarm lead 4S by way of lead 132. Similarly, lead 134 provides connection from the common induction path of make-break switch 34 to the common alarm lead 78.

In this manner, a signal appearing on alarm lead 48 acts to pass current through the normally closed contacts of switch 32 through the associated operated winding to switch these closed contacts to an open position and to close the normally opened contacts of make-break switch 32. Hence, current passes directly from the high voltage line 15 to the common lead 16 by way of a switch 33. Switch 33 is a manually operated one for the convenience of the person located at the first station associated with alarm apparatus 10.

Current passing through the illustrated operating winding associated with the make-break switch 32 acts through the operating linkage, indicated by broken lines (but not shown specifically), to close contact 31a which is connected in series with distinctive indicators between the low voltage line 17 and the common line 16. As is seen in this drawing, a low voltage lamp 26a is masked by a diagonally inclined bar 27a inclined downwardly from left to right. This bar 27a is distinctively associated with station 40. A person at the first station associated with the apparatus 10, upon observing alarm at station 40, may conveniently open the switch 33 and thus terminate the alarm, if it should be offensive. The very requirement for terminating this alarm, of course will remind the person at station to summon assistance or notify a police authority, for instance.

It has been noted heretofore that an electromagnetically operated switch is connected in series with an indicator arrangement in series across the low voltage line 17 and the common line 16. In accordance with the invention, this series indicator arrangement comprises not one, but two indicator paths for current flowing between the low voltage line and the common line 16. Thus, assume current to flow through contact 31 by operation of the linkage between winding 23 and these latter noted contacts. The current will pass by Way of a low voltage indicator lamp 26 and through a selectively operable switch 30 by way of the parallel connected operating winding for an audible signal device, such as, a horn. This indicator lamp 26 is partially masked by the distinctive mask 27 comprising a horizontal bar. This horizontal bar is associated with the first protected station, protected by the alarm apparatus 10. By the same token, the horn 29 associated with the operating winding 28 is one of the type for generating high frequency acoustical signals when energized by the winding 28. This high frequency characteristic is illustrated in the drawing by the small size of horn 28. Similar arrangements are as shown in connection with the indicator 26a, the mask 27a, the horn 29a and for the indicator lamp 26h the mask 2711 and the horn 29h. Thus an observer at a station protected by the apparatus 10 is made aware immedialtely, both acoustically and visually, that a particular one of the plural associated stations has been entered.

Depending upon the local positioning of the alarm apparatus, the switch 30 may be advantageously opened to prevent any acoustic warning being presented to an intruder at fthe premises entered. At the station protected by the apparatus 10, switch 30 enables flexible surveillance of the alarm apparatus in accordance with the invention without impairing the certainty of this surveillance.

Similar arrangements are provided in the alarm apparatus 4t) and in the alarm apparatus 70. In each case, the alarm apparatus illustrated, adapted for installation at a second and a third station to be protected, comprises functional elements comparable to those illustrated in connection with the apparatus 10. Designating numerals for these comparable elements have simply been ncreased by 30 or 60 as the case may be.

Other varied embodiments of the invention will occur readily to those skilled in the ant. The invention is pointed out in the appended claims in language intended to be broadly construed commensurate with the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. Alarm'apparatus for giving signal indication of intrusion on protected points at plural stations which comprises, an input line for connection to a source of alternating current, a transformer having a primary Winding connected across said input line and a secondary winding having a first and a second portion, a common, first lead connected between said portions, an alarm selecting, high voltage, second lead connected to said first secondary winding portion, and an indicator operating, low voltage third lead connected to said second secondary portion, an alarm energizing, fourth lead, a like plurality of electrically operated indicators, each distinctively associated with one of said stations, a like plurality of electromagnetically operated, normally open indicator switches, the switches of said last named plurality and the indicators of said next but last named plurality being respectively connected in series across said first and third leads, a like plurality of electromagnetically operated make-break switches each having rst, normally closed contacts and second normally opened contacts, and an operating winding connected in series with both said contacts, said normally opened contacts being connected with said second lead, lead means for connecting one of said normally closed contacts with said fourth lead and the remaining ones of said normally closed contacts respectively having means for connection, respectively, to an exterior station, the operating windings of said make-break switches being connected to said common, first lead, said windings further comprising a magnetically operated linkage for shifting the conduction conditions of respectively associated make-break switch contacts and of an associated one of said electromagnetically operated indicator switches upon flow of current through -said windings, a next plurality of normally open switches connected in parallel between said high voltage, second lead and said fourth, alarm lead, said parallel connected switches being disposed at a first station for operation to a closed position upon intrusion upon the respectively associated location of said station.

2. An alarm system for providing mutual warning at plural stations of said system of intrusion upon any one of said plural stations which comprises, a like plurality of like alarm arrangements disposed, respectively, at each of said stations, each one of said arrangements comprising a transformer having input leads adapted for connection to a source of alternating current, said transformer having a secondary winding having first and second parts connected in series, a rst lead connected to a common connection point in said transformer secondary winding between said parts, a second lead connected to one exterior terminal of said secondary winding and a third lead connected to the remaining terminal of said secondary winding, a fourth, alarm lead, a plurality of parallel connected, normally open switches disposable about the station associated with said one arrangement, the switches of said last named plurality being operable to a closed condition upon intrusion at an associated location in the associated station, said parallel connected switches being connected between said second and fourth leads, for connecting said second lead with said fourth lead, another plurality of two conductive path switches having one normally open path and one normally closed path, the switches of said last named plurality corresponding in number with the number of said plural stations, both paths of each switch being connected in series with an operating winding, each of said switches further comprising an operating linkage responsive to current iiow in said winding, each of said normally closed paths being respectively connected with an alarm lead at a different one of said stations and each of said normally open paths being connected to said second lead, a like plurality of electrically operated indicating devices each paired with a normally open switch, electromagnetically operative to a closed condition, said devices and switches being connected across said iirst and third leads, the linkages of said plurality being operative to shut a respectively associated one, of said last named switches and to shift conduction states of two paths in an associated one of said parallel connected paths upon energization of said winding, whereby a distinctive one of said indicating devices is energized and held energized by current from said second lead upon closure of one of said plurality of parallel connected switches at one of said plural stations.

3. An alarm system as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of the normally open switch paths of each arrangement which are associated with another such arrangement removed from it includes a manually operable switch.

4. An alarm system as set forth in claim 2 wherein that transformer secondary winding part connected to said second lead comprises a high voltage Winding part relative to said remaining part. l

5. An alarm system as set forth in claim 2 wherein each indicating device of said plurality comprises a parallel connected optical indicating device and an audible indicating device, said last named devices being distinctively associated With one of said stations.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said linkages are respectively associated with indicating devices and two path switches, said last named devices and switches, in turn, being respectively associated with a like station.

n 19 References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 570,616 Steinkoenig Nov. 3, 1896 2,663,864 Cundiff Dec. 22, 1953 2,730,704 Warren Jan. 10, 1956 2,942,249 Paull June 21, 1960 

2. AN ALARM SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING MUTUAL WARNING AT PLURAL STATIONS OF SAID SYSTEM OF INTRUSION UPON ANY ONE OF SAID PLURAL STATIONS WHICH COMPRISES, A LIKE PLURALITY OF LIKE ALARM ARRANGEMENTS DISPOSED, RESPECTIVELY, AT EACH OF SAID STATIONS, EACH ONE OF SAID ARRANGEMENTS COMPRISING A TRANSFORMER HAVING INPUT LEADS ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO A SOURCE OF ALTERNATING CURRENT, SAID TRANSFORMER HAVING A SECONDARY WINDING HAVING FIRST AND SECOND PARTS CONNECTED IN SERIES, A FIRST LEAD CONNECTED TO A COMMON CONNECTION POINT IN SAID TRANSFORMER SECONDARY WINDING BETWEEN SAID PARTS, A SECOND LEAD CONNECTED TO ONE EXTERIOR TERMINAL OF SAID SECONDARY WINDING AND A THIRD LEAD CONNECTED TO THE REMAINING TERMINAL OF SAID SECONDARY WINDING, A FOURTH, ALARM LEAD, A PLURALITY OF PARALLEL CONNECTED, NORMALLY OPEN SWITCHES DISPOSABLE ABOUT THE STATION ASSOCIATED WITH SAID ONE ARRANGEMENT, THE SWITCHES OF SAID LAST NAMED PLURALITY BEING OPERABLE TO A CLOSED CONDITION UPON INTRUSION AT AN ASSOCIATED LOCATION IN THE ASSOCIATED STATION, SAID PARALLEL CONNECTED SWITCHES BEING CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID SECOND AND FOURTH LEADS, FOR CONNECTING SAID SECOND LEAD WITH SAID FOURTH LEAD, ANOTHER PLURALITY OF TWO CONDUCTIVE PATHS SWITCHES HAVING ONE NORMALLY OPEN PATH AND ONE NORMALLY CLOSED PATH, THE SWITCHES OF SAID LAST NAMED PLURALITY CORRESPONDING IN NUMBER WITH THE NUMBER OF SAID PLURAL STATIONS, BOTH PATHS OF EACH SWITCH BEING CONNECTED IN SERIES WITH AN OPERATING WINDING, EACH OF SAID SWITCHES FURTHER COMPRISING AN OPERATING LINKAGE RESPONSIVE TO CURRENT FLOW IN SAID WINDING, EACH OF SAID NORMALLY CLOSED PATHS BEING RESPECTIVELY CONNECTED WITH AN ALARM LEAD AT A DIFFERENT ONE OF SAID STATIONS AND EACH OF SAID NORMALLY OPEN PATHS BEING CONNECTED TO SAID SECOND LEAD, A LIKE PLURALITY OF ELECTRICALLY OPERATED INDICATING DEVICES EACH PAIRED WITH A NORMALLY OPEN SWITCH, ELECTROMAGNETICALLY OPERATIVE TO A CLOSED CONDITION, SAID DEVICES AND SWITCHES BEING CONNECTED ACROSS SAID FIRST AND THIRD LEADS, THE LINKAGES OF SAID PLURALITY BEING OPERATIVE TO SHUT A RESPECTIVELY ASSOCIATED ONE, OF SAID LAST NAMED SWITCHES AND TO SHIFT CONDUCTION STATES OF TWO PATHS IN AN ASSOCIATED ONE OF SAID PARALLEL CONNECTED PATHS UPON ENERGIZING OF SAID WINDING, WHEREBY A DISTINCTIVE ONE OF SAID INDICATING DEVICES IS ENERGIZED AND HELD ENERGIZED BY CURRENT FROM SAID SECOND LEAD UPON CLOSURE OF ONE OF SAID PLURALITY OF PARALLEL CONNECTED SWITCHES AT ONE OF SAID PLURAL STATIONS. 